Grain wagon



March 7, 1950 J, LOCKENVITZ 2,499,925

GRAIN WAGON Filed may 21, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 1 lm. www NIHII.

March 7, 1950 J, LOCKENvl-rz 2,499,925

GRAIN WAGON 75 @gym Patentecl Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAIN WAGON John Lockenvitz, Bloomington, Ill. Application May 21, 1947, Serial No. 749,528

This invention relates to certain improvements in grain 4wagons which are more particularly adapted for use on farms to transport the grain from point to point and more particularly to deliver such grain to grain elevators and the like for storage purposes or for rail deliveries depending upon the demand for the grain.

It has been the practice in the past to use the usual farm grain wagon for cartage purposes and to deliver grain to a mill or elevator. Such wagons were normally raised by means of hydraulic jacks to lift one end thereof tilting such wagon endwise and permitting the grain to spill out of the end gate through the elevator grates or directly upon the elevator conveyors or whatever the particular arrangement happens to be. When a wagon of this type is being hauled by a tractor it becomes necessary to unhitch the tractor to permit the unloading of the wagon by the hydraulic lift means requiring the uncoupling and recoupling of the tractor with the Wagon and also necessitating the use of the lift means to dump the grain out of the wagon end gate. Furthermore, the ordinary farm wagon of the conventional type is designed to haul a standard capacity of grain and the wagon bodies are normally supported relatively high with respect to the wheels of the carriage or chassis which is not the best arrangement where rough ground exists and where the weather or size of crop requires quick delivery of the grain from the field to the point of discharge.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a grain wagon which will minimize handling thereby reducing labor to give the farmer and his help more time in the field, and also to provide a means for quickly unloading such wagon without the hydraulic equipment being necessary as in the case with the conventional farm grain wagon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a farm grain wagon with a specially designed bottom which lowers the center of gravity of the wagon and the grain load by utilizing the space above the wheeled chassis and laterally to at least one side thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a bottom chute with sloping sections all inclined downwardly and toward one side of the wagon to provide a low point which together with the sloping sections of the bottom forms a discharge hopper hereby the wagon may be quickly and readily emptied under all conditions of use without necessitating the use of hydraulic lift equipment and also without requiring the tractor Claims. (Cl. 298-27) 2 to be unhitched and rehitched thereafter during the unloading or discharging of the grain from the wagon. It should be noted that this particular style and design of wagon lends itself to a tandem arrangement whereby a tractor may pull two or more wagons in line to allow the tractor Ito-pull each wagon successively over the grain grate of the conveyor at the elevator thereby quickly emptying each wagon without all of the attendant difficulties which exist in carrying out this operation with conventional forms of grain wagon.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a wagon bottom having a unitary hopper and discharge unit which can be used in connection with a conventional grain wagon to transform the latter from such into a hopper and side discharge wagony to feasibly carry out the eiiicient discharge of the grain with very little change to the normal type of grain wagon. This change is made by removing the body of the conventional type of grain wagon. from the chassis or bolsters of the wheeled vehicle and by removing the bottom from the body of the wagon and interposing the bottom chute hopper discharge unit between the bolsters of the wagon securing the box top without its bottom to the peripheral edges of the hopper insert. y

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a hopper bottom either independently. of the Wagon body and Wheeled vehicle or by incorporating the same as a unitary arrange.- ment including the body although ,freely Sus- .pended upon the holsters, wherein suchhopper discharge bottom is designed as a uniquely trussed structurevhaving side trusses and cross members forming' a diagonally disposed truss to readily lsupport the ventire grain load of the wagon to.- -gether with the wagon top with ease and facility.

All otherob'jects and advantages relating :to the salient features of the present invention embodied in a grain wagon shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating several analogous constructions thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional farm wagon which has been converted intora vehicle having a chute bottom with the various grain supporting sections thereof inclin- .ing towards a common discharge opening having suitable closure mechanism for controlling the discharge of the grain; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the grain supporting insert comprising the discharge chute mechanism Ias seen from the side oppositely dis- 3 posed with respect to Fig. 1 and as the same would appear when removed from its supporting position upon the bolsters of the wheeled chassis and supporting the ordinary farm wagon box thereon;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the grain wagon chute bottom as the same would appear when viewed from above and in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and substantially as seen along the line 3-3 therein; l

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the chute as viewed from the right hand sides of the chutes shown in Figs. l and 3 respectively;

Fig. 5 is small perspective view of a winged door which is used for closing the side opening of the chute and which can be locked into closed position by any suitable means until vthe time of discharge;

Fig. 6 is a small side elevational view of a buckle and double rod structure which is Supplied with relatively steep land oppositely pitched threads to coact between the door of Fig. 5 and a xed part of the chute structure for easily opening the door when the discharge of the grain or other material is required;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a grain wagon body and bottom chute which are constructed and designed to bodily set upon the front and back bolsters of the wheeled chassis incorporating unique reinforcing means permitting the use of sheet steel or other thin metal in the construction of the entire unit with the proper reinforcement for supporting the 4load and wagon body as well as suspending the chute bottom upon the mobile unit;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the wagon and chute bottom combination illustrated in Fig. 7 to further show certain details of construction thereof;

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of this same grain wagon body and chute bottom combination `as viewed from the left hand side of Figs. 7 or 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail horizontal cross sectional view of a portion of the wagon body :substantially as viewed along the line Ill-#I0 in Fig. '7;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical 'cross sectional view of the joint between the wagon body and chute bottom substantially as seen along the line I I-II in Fig. 8 but with the illustration in Fig. 11 being in the right side up position;

Fig. 12 is another enlarged detail cross sectional view in a vertical plane taken substantially along the line I2I2 in Fig. 8 to illustrate certain details of the reinforced construction of Vthe chute bottom; y

Fig. 13 is a modiied arrangement of the joint illustrated in Fig. 12 to show certain other possible reinforcing variations that may be utilized at the joints of this kind comprising an integral part of the chute bottom assembly; and

Fig. 14 is a further modified arrangement of a joint such as illustrated in Fig. 11 indicating the use of additional reinforcing mean's inter- 'posed between the side wall of the grain wagon and the chute bottom at their line of juncture.

The rst form of the invention incorporates the principle of a unitary design of chute bottom which carries the total grain load and which is capable of a side discharge of such grain from the wagon through the operation of suitable closure means of any kind which can bereadily opened for releasing the grain. ,This chute bottom in its entirety is adapted for bodily insertion betweenthe wheeled chassis :ofthe wagon and the wagon box itselfwhich has previously had its usual bottom unbolted and removed therefrom.

This chute bottom is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I and comprises an upper supporting frame having longitudinal rails in the form of angle irons 2 and 3 connected by transverse rail angles 4 and 5 which are all welded together or otherwise suitably fastened to present a horizontally disposed supporting surface providing a ledge that is located iu a common plane. The door side of the chute bottom l is constructed as an inverted deep truss suspended from the angle 2 which forms a part of this structure and comprises the downwardly inclined angles 6 and l, vertical angles 8 and 9 joined by an auxiliary cross brace or angle I0 extending longitudinally with respect to the chute bottom and substantially parallel to the upper ledge of the rail angle 2. To further reinforce this front truss arrangement, a pair of short transverse angles II and I2 are secured to the vertical angles 8 and 9 and extend rearwardly the length of the chute opening as viewed and indicated by I3 in Fig. 3 to meet a longitudinally extending angle brace I4 shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4. These angles II and I2 may be extended as at I2a in Fig. 4 and provided with appropriate openings I2b for attachment of a chute extension I2c shown in dotted lines. Suitable conventional conveyor means might also be supported from these angles II and I2.

Referring to Fig. 2, the rear portion of the chute bottom I is provided with a shallow truss which is also inverted and suspended from the ledge rail angle 3 utilizing inclined angles I5 and I 6 welded or otherwise secured to a longitudinally extending angle I'I which extends substantially parallel to the ledge angle 3. Tension members such as the channels I8 and i9 comprise a portion of the shallower truss and connect the intermediate sections of the long ledge angle 3 and the lower parallel and longitudinal angle II completing the smaller depth rear truss just described.

In addition, the two trusses described as the relatively deep truss and the shallower truss are now connected by suitable angles to complete this load carrying cradle and wagon top supporting means, and such transverse supports comprise a pair of laterally inclined angles 2t and 2i extending at right angles between the trusses but dropping from the bottom angle rail I7 of the back .truss to the lower cross rail I 4 of the deeper front truss. In addition, a pair of downwardly and diagonally arranged angle members 22 and 23 extend from the lower end corners of the lower angle rail I1 of the rear truss to the rearward ends of the small transverse 'angles I l and l 2 which are suspended and attached to the vertical angles 8 and 9 and connected by the longitudinal cross rail I4, the angles 22 and 23 being rigidly secured to the rear ends of the small angles II and l2 just described as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Although these transverse supports extend between the two side trusses, they form an inclined and diagonally disposed truss which uses some of the parts of such other trusses as common members.

.This entire chute bottom is enclosed by means of the three bottom sections 24, 25 and 26 supand23. A bottom opening at the conuence of the three inclinations of the'sectionsll, 25 and 26`as indicated at I3 in Fig. 3 is closed by a suitable winged door 29 as best shown in Fig. 5, which has side wings 30 and 3| to enclose the chute bottom at the points 32 and 33 in Fig. 3 with the main portion of the door 29 inclined from the plane of the forward truss downwardly and toward the terminal edge 34 of the bottom chute section 25 dening this portion of the opening |3.

A suitable cross pin 35 as best shown in Fig. 1 passes through the openings 36 and 31 at the upper extremities of the wings 30 and 3| and extends into suitable bearings 38 and 39 supported by the vertical angles 8 and 9 of the front deep truss.

The door 29 is kept in closed position to dam any release of the grain through the opening I3 by means of the Fig. 6 unit which comprises a turnbuckle 40 connecting lock rods 4| and 42 which are each threaded with oppositely pitched threads of steep pitch to permit quick movement of the rods toward or away from each other by means of the operation or rotation of the turnbuckle 40. This turnbuckle unit is inserted between the wings 3D and 3| with the rods 4| and 42 inserted through the aligned openings 44 in the wings 30 and 3| of the door 29. As seen in Fig. 1, the wings 30 and 3| flank the vertical legs of the short transverse angles and |2 which are also provided with openings such as 45 located in positions wherein such openings 45 are adapted to receive the ends 4i and 42 of the turnbuckle unit as the latter are extended o positely outwardly with respect to the wings 43 and 44 of the door 29. When the turnbuckle unit is in position through the holes 43 and 44 and also entering the holes 45, the door 29 is disposed in a position to completely lock and shut oir all grain leakage from the opening I3 of the chute bottom I.

The turnbuckle structure has been eliminated from the Fig. 1 illustration for the sake of clarity to show certain other details of construction. However, it is also possible to use other means for locking the door 29 in respect to a xed portion of the side deep truss structure which may function equally well in carrying out functions of this invention.

As seen in Fig. 1, the forward or outer vertical door side' of the chute bottom is closed by one or more vertical sheet metal sides such as shown at 46, 41 and 48, while the rear portion of the chute as seen in Fig. 2 may also be enclosed by one or more vertical plates or sheet metal sections 49, D and 5| completing this relatively light weight but mechanically stiffened and reinforced chute bottom incorporating the inverted truss structure with the lateral connecting truss and which chute presents a rail structure having a top ledge which is substantially equal in size to the peripheral bottom edge of the grain wagon supported and carried on this chute unit.

The supporting members of this chute consist of a pair of transverse angles 52 and 53 which are welded or otherwise firmly secured to the bottom' portions of the side struts of the chute bottom trusses. The bottom faces or legs of these angles 52 and 53 are disposed in coplanar relationship and are spaced for suitable supporting engagement with the upper portions of the bolsters 54 and 55 of the wheeled carriage 56. Vertically disposed and spaced pins or standards 51-51 and 58-58 are secured to the bolsters 54 and 55 respectively to embrace or engage the side portions of the chute bottom to prevent lateral displacement of the same with respect to the bolsters 54 and 55. The bolsters are carried upon the wheel 43 and l the operational 6 sets 56a and 56h that are longitudinally joined by a conventional form of reach 55o. I

The wagon top shown in Fig. 1 and indicated at 59 merely comprises an open box of rectangular form wherein the bottom has been removed and this open box rests upon the upper rails comprising the angles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the trusses. This wagon body 59 may be secured in any desirable way to the chute bottom and for purposes of illustration suitable brackets such as 6U and 6| are indicated in Fig. 1 as being bolted to the sides of the wagon box 59 and to the lower edges of the horizontal legs of the upper rails of the chute bottom I With this particular type of chute bottom and its unique reinforcing skeleton suitably supporting the sides and bottom sections of sheet metal or other closure means form a light weight but extremely rigid bottom which is insertable between the bolsters of a wheeled chassis 56 and the box top 59 of the wagon with the bottom removed to provide a means which will accelerate the discharge of grain from the farm grain wagon. In addition, although this insert or chute bottom only slighty raises the bottom of the wagon box 59 above the level of the bolsters 54 and 55, this chute bottom also increases the capacity of the wagon considerably by utilizing the space between the wheels and depending to at least one side of the chassis reach 56o which connects such wheels as is evident from the illustrations shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings. Furthermore, the center of gravity of the wagon is lowered by suspending a part of the additional load between the wheels and below the levels of the bolsters 54 and 55.

Referring now to the grain wagon body illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, it is seen that this structure utilizes a sheet metal construction of light weight but incorporating the same principles hereinbefore mentioned in connection with the preferred form, the only diiference being that the latter form is designed as a complete combination unit which may entirely replace the old conventional form of wagon body or be incorporated into an entirely new wagon instead of having theconversional features of the preferred form for revamping the customary farm wagon for grain transportation and handling purposes.

In the latter construction the box top unit or grain body structure and the chute bottom structure are uniquely arranged to provide the same truss combining reinforcing elements which are present in the preferred chute bottom illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. The grain wagon in Figs.

' 7 and 9 includes a box top or grain bin having the sides 65 and 66 between ends 61 and 68, the sides 65 and 66 tapering downwardly and inwardly at 69 and 10 to meet the general peripheral contour of the chute bottom 1| which is of thesame general proportions as the chute bottom illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and adapted for support upon suitable bolsters such as shown in these figures. The connecting portions of the chute bottom and the box top comprising the longitudinally running seams 12 and 13 which consist of lap joints as shown in Fig. 11 and as better illustrated in the broken away portions of Fig. 8 with parts of front and back sides 65 and B5 of the box top shown in section. With this arrangement, the lap joint indicated between the arrows 14 in Fig. 11 produces a reinforced angle iron structure which is substantially analogous to the angle iron structure of the preferred construction to form one portion of the truss structure which is adapted for reinforcing the chute bottom for the purposes of 7. adequately suspending the. chute and; supporting the grain load as. well as the entire load of the respective assembledfsections of the grain wagon.

The grain supporting bottom of the chute lbottom 1| comprises ive sectionsv 15, 1.6, 11, 78 and 19 which are. connected with the wagon body sides 65 and 66 as just explained in connection with Fig. 11. In addition each of these sections are connected along vertically abutting seams 810, 8 I', 82v and 83 with the seam 8| illustrated in detail in Fig.. 12. These joints therefore form thetransverse and diagonally supporting and reinforcing strutmembers which are analagous to some of the cross angles of the diagonal truss illustrated and described in connection with Figs.. 1 to 4 inclusive.`

Base angles 84A and 85 extend transversely with respect tothe chute bottom 'H and arev welded or otherwise attached thereto with the bottom legs of'these angles disposed in coplanar relationship and suitably positioned for resting upon the. bolsters of the wheeled chassis of the wagon.

The four box sides of the wagon. are lapped as shown inFig. 10 to produce thel reinforced composite vertical corner hang-es 86 shown in Fig. 10 while the end portions of the wagon body are f-urther strengthened by vertical angles such as 8? and 88 shown in. Fig. 9.

To further strengthen and suspend the side trusses constructed by the overlapping seams of the unit, the forward or door side of the wagon includes suitable channels 89 and `9J., while the other side portion of the wagon unit as shown in Fig. 8 includes the channels 9| and 92.. With this particular construction the entirewagon side may be considered as a vertical extended portion of the side trusses which form the chute bottom supporting means.

As in the preferred form, a suitable door such as 93 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 completes the entire grain wagon enclosure producing a comparatively light weight structure of relatively great capacity in contrast with the conventional farm. grain wagon, and a structure which has complete utility for the quick and easy handling of grains requiring less time for this chore and permitting the men to spend greater time in the elds during the harvesting of the grain.

Certain changes are possible in the exact constructions herein disclosed and described for producing a grain wagon of the type presented. Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate .certain of such varia.- tions in providing a reinforcing seam orangle which is analagous to the strut elements -of the truss or trusses that may :be incorporated in a sheet metal construction of this type showing other adaptations of the same principles. Fig. 13 is analagous to the joint illustratedv in Fig. 12, while Fig. 14 typiies a similar joint to tha-t illustrated in Fig. 1l.

Obviously, other changes and differentiations may be incorporatedI in the present grain wagon structure to carry out the principles oit the present invention. All such changes in the exact form or shapes of the elements, or in the combination thereof, or as may be brought vabout through the substitution of equivalent' mechanisms, shallbe governed by the. breadth and scope of the claims appended hereto and directed to the salient. feaf tures of the present invention.

` 1. A chute bottom for a farm grain wagon comprising a deep truss, a' shallow trussyand a diag.- onally disposed trusslincluding portions; of each of said' trusses' and/connecting. the. latter, closure 75 means carriedby said trusses` and in the planes thereof and'joinedto form a grain hopper, and discharge means disposed at a low point of said hopper to normally retainthe grain.l and. to allow discharge thereof from. said hopper.

.2.. A chute bottom for a conventional farm grain wagon adapted to be interposed between the wagon box and the wheel bolsters of the mobile unit to support said box with the latters bottom. removed, comprising a deep truss, a shallow truss', and an. inclined truss connected therebetween, means for lining said trusses to retain grain, and spaced pad means connected with said trusses and adapted to rest upon the wheel bolsters, to suspend .the trusses therebetween, and said trusses. having portions thereof disposed in coplanar relationship for attachment to said wagon box and to provide peripheral support therefor.

3. A chute bottom for a conventional farm grain. wagon adapted to be interposed between the wagon box and the wheel bolsters of the inobile unit to-support said box with the lattersV bottom removed, comprising a deep trussa shallow truss, and an inclined truss connected therebetween, means for lining said trusses to retain grain.. and spaced pad means` connected with said trusses and adapted to rest upon the wheel bolsters. to suspend the trusses. therebetween, and said trusses having portions thereof disposed in coplanar relationship for attachment to said wagon box and to. provide peripheral support therefor, anddischarge means arranged at a low point between members of said trusses to normally retain grain and to allow discharge of the grain iromsaid chute bottom.

4. A chute bottom for a conventional farm grain wagon adapted to be interposedy between the wagon box and the wheel bolsters of the vmobile unit to support said box with the lattersbottom, removed, comprising a deep truss, a shallow truss, and an inclined truss connected therebetween, means for lining said trusses to retain grain, and spaced pad means connected with said trusses and extending transversely thereof to connect and stabilize the deep and shallow trusses, said pad meanseach having horizontally disposed. base elements` adapted to rest upon the wheel bolstersto suspend the trusses therebetween, and saidv trusses having portions thereof disposed in coplanar relationship for attachment to said wagon box and to provide peripheral support therefor.

5. A chute bottom for a conventional farm grain wagon adapted toA be interposed between the wagon box and the wheel holsters of the mobile unit to support said box with the latters bottom removed, comprising a deep truss, a shallow truss, and an inclined'truss connected therebetween, means for lining said trusses to retain grain, and spaced pad means connected' with said trusses and extending transversely thereof to connect and stabilize the deep and shallow trusses, said pad means each having horizontally disposed' base elements adapted to rest upon the wheel bolsters to suspend the trusses therebetween,A and said trusses having portionsv thereof disposed in coplanar relationship for attachment to said wagon box and to provide peripheral support therefor, said coplanar portions of said trussesy and the horizontally positionedv base elements of the spaced pad means being arranged in planes' paralleli with, respect to each other whereby said; wagon boxis supported in horizon-l tal relation upon equal height bolsters and with respect to the wheeled chassis.

6. A chute bottom for a farm grain wagon comprising a deep truss at one side, a shallow truss at the other side, and a diagonally disposed truss extending between the lower extremities of each of said trusses and connecting the same, closure means supported by said trusses and joined to form a hopper to hold grain with the low point thereof disposed adjacent the bottom portion of the deep truss, and releasable discharge means connected at said hopper low point and adapted for permitting discharge of said grain out of the side of said deep truss and adjacent the bottom thereof.

- 7. A chute bottom for a farm grain Wagon comprising a deep truss at one side, a shallow truss at the other side, and a diagonally disposed truss extending between the lower extremities of each of said trusses and connecting the same,

closure means supported by said trusses and joined to form a hopper to hold grain with the low point thereof disposed adjacent the bottom portion of the deep truss, and releasable discharge means connected at said hopper low point and adapted for permitting discharge of said grain out of the side of said deep truss and adjacent the bottom thereof, and means to support said trusses upon the bolsters of a wheeled chassis and to suspend the same between said wheels, said support means being arranged to give clearance for the deep side truss to depend and aft wheels of the chassis, and said diagonal truss and the shallow truss being disposed in a predetermined relation with respect to the support means to clear the reach of said wheeled chassis and t bring the grain discharge point to or below the level of said reach.

8. A chute bottom for a grain carrier comprising a plurality of sheet metal sections, said sections being joined at predetermined lines of intersection to form ooacting rigid lap joints to strengthen and support the intermediate portions of said sections, certain of said joints being arranged to form coacting inverted trusses for the bottom sides of said carrier, and certain other of said joints being arranged to form a transverse truss for connecting the side trusses, al1 of said trusses being adapted to suspend the chute bottom from a wheeled vehicle and to support the grain load of such carrier.

9. A chute prising a plurality of sheet metal sections, said bottom for a grain carrier comsections being joined at predetermined lines of intersection to form coacting rigid lap joints to strengthen and support the intermediate portions of said sections, certain of said joints being arranged to form coacting inverted trusses for the bottom sides of said carrier, and certain other of said joints being arranged to form a transverse truss for connecting the side trusses, all of said trusses being adapte-d to suspend the chute bottom from a wheeled vehicle and to support the grain load of such carrier, said sheet metal sections including vertically disposed side walls forming an enclosure above said chute bottom with the latter sections meeting in vertically disposed lap joints extending to said chute bottom, and channel members secured to the latter vertically disposed side wall sections of the enclosure and depending therefrom to connect with said chute bottom to support part of the load carried by the latter from said enclosure sections.

10. A chute bottom for a grain carrier comprising a plurality of sheet metal sections, said sections being joined at predetermined lines of intersection to form coacting rigid lap joints to strengthen and support the intermediate portions of said sections, certain of said joints being arranged to form coacting inverted trusses for the bottom sides of said carrier, and certain other of said joints being arranged to form a transverse truss for connecting the side trusses, all of said trusses being adapted to suspend the chute bottom from a wheeled vehicle and to support the grain load of such carrier, and transverse supporting pad members disposed and connected across the underside of said chute bottom between certain of said truss forming joints to bodily support the chute bottom and its load upon said wheeled vehicle.

JOHN LOCKENVITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 708,134 Glenn Sept. 2, 1902 '764,355 Hart et al. July 5, 1904 772,722 Larry Oct. 18, 1904 882,868 Campbell Mar. 24, 1908 1,029,894 Schellenger June 18, 1912 1,482,559 Hart Feb. 5, 1924 

